Fort George G. Meade: The First 100 Years

NAMESAKE: Robert Cornelius Llewellyn
WORLD WAR I YEARS
75
Robert Cornelius Llewellyn of Brooklyn, New York, was
commissioned in the Coastal Artillery Corps in June 1917,
shortly after the U.S. declared war on Germany. Mostly,
though, Robert Llewellyn is a mystery: even his headstone
lacks a birthdate.
In January 1918 George Patton began scouring units in
France for recruits to fill out the American Expeditionary
Forces’ light tank training center he was establishing near
Langres in the Haute-Marne. On Jan. 8, he secured 10
men from the 1st Separate Brigade, Coastal Artillery
Corps (Railroad), then stationed at Mailly-le-Camp, some
65 miles to the northwest. Among those men was 2nd Lt.
Math L. English, for whom Fort Meade’s English Avenue
is named. Ten days later another group of 10 men from
the brigade arrived, including Llewellyn. Patton later
commented that these 20 officers formed “the foundation
of the Tank Corps in France.” By mid-February the school
had formed two companies: Llewellyn was assigned to
English’s Company B. By the time Patton formed his first
three-company battalion in mid-April 1918, Llewellyn
was a first lieutenant.
During the first phase of the Meuse-Argonne
Offensive, beginning Sept. 26, 1918, Llewellyn was a
platoon commander in English’s Company C, 344th
(originally 326 th ) Battalion, commanded by Capt.
By Patrick Osborn
(soon Major) Ranulf Compton. Part of Patton’s 304 th
(originally 1 st ) Tank Brigade, Company C constituted a
reserve unit until it moved into the town of Exermont
but was unable to hold it as 35th Division infantry fell
back. When 1st Division relieved the 35th and renewed
the offensive on Oct. 4, Exermont remained in German
hands. English’s company supported troops of 18 th
Infantry Regiment, which had gained familiarity with
Patton’s men at St. Mihiel two weeks earlier. The attack
had the objective of seizing Exermont and advancing
well beyond. All accounts agree German resistance was
fierce, coming from the northern slopes of the steep
ravine in which Exermont was situated and from both
flanks. In attempting to suppress German machine guns
inflicting severe casualties on the infantry, English’s tanks
entered the ravine but took extremely heavy fire. Both
English and Llewellyn were killed, as were four enlisted
men; many other officers and soldiers were wounded. Lt.
Llewellyn later was awarded a posthumous Silver Star, and
was reburied in Arlington National Cemetery in1921. 10
years later Llewellyn Avenue–a stretch of road familiar
to anyone acquainted with Fort Meade–was named in his
honor.
***
(Left) Nest of baby tanks at Fort Meade.